Q: My husband and friends have a major issue with me. I’m too honest and open. When a problem arises, I’ll address it right then and there. But other people see this as rude and offensive. I also become very angry at times and am unable to hold back or stop until I feel that I’ve been heard. Any advice?

- Lekendra T.

A: Hi Lekendra,

From what you describe, it sounds like you may have an anger-management issue. The fact that your husband and friends have a major issue with you over this behavior tells me that it has escalated to the point of creating real problems in your life and relationships. You’re right to be concerned about it and I congratulate you for recognizing it and asking for help. The good news is that this can be addressed and corrected if you’re willing to get some help.

What you describe doesn’t sound like the normal kind of controlled anger that most of us express every once in a while. The intensity of your attack and feeling of being out of control reminds me of something called Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This is briefly defined as a behavior disorder that’s characterized by extreme expressions of anger. Because there’s no way for me to know how serious a problem this really is for you and whether or not there has ever been any physical violence involved, I strongly suggest that you meet with a therapist for an evaluation. A trained professional will help you get to the bottom of this behavior and provide you with an anger-management action plan to address it. This is definitely an issue that can be managed if you’re ready and willing to do what it takes to correct it.